Snap-action switch



y 7, 1968 F. N. ANDERSON 3,382,339

SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Filed July 14, 1967 r 4' "I IN D C24 INVENTOR.

5 1251: JV ANJERs'aJv BY United States Patent 3,382,339 SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Fred N. Anderson, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to Cherry Electrical Products Corporation, Highland Park, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 14, 1967, Ser. No. 653,443 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-160) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric switch having a plurality of contact blades movable with a snap action by overcentering mechanisms activated by a single actuator with the blades establishing a momentary or pulse contact therebetween. Each of the contact blades movable between stop members controlling the distance of the pivotal movement and duration of contact between the blades as the same are moved in either of two directions by their respective overcentering mechanisms.

The snap-action switch of this invention is defined in Class 200 Electricity, Circuit Makers and Breakers, and comprises a compartmentized housing providing a number of fixed contact bearing terminals with certain of the terminals including pivotal supports for movable switch blades. Overcentering mechanisms for each of the blades including coil springs extending between the blades and certain of the fixed terminals for placing the blades in compression relative to their pivotal supports. Stop members in the path of pivotal movement of the free ends of the blades for limiting the distance of their pivotal movement in either direction by their overcentering mechanisms such that there is a momentary contact between the free ends of the blades for achieving the purpose of the switch.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the switch,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the switch actuator button,

FIG. 3 is an elevational view with the side cover of the housing removed showing the switch parts in their normal or inoperative position,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing one of the switch blades in its operative position and FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the parts of the switch in their full operative position.

The switch housing comprises complementary side sections formed to provide therein a cavity or compartment 11 for the components of the switch, including movable switch blades, pivotal supports therefor and tension members for holding the blades in compression against their supports, all comprising overcentering mechanisms for pivoting the blades with a snap action movement between predetermined positions.

An external actuating lever 12 is pivotally mounted between spaced apart ears 13 provided by the top wall surface of each of the housing sections. This lever 12 rests upon the exposed enlarged circular top 14 of an actuator 15 extending out of an opening 16 formed in the top walls of the housing sections as seen in FIG. 1.

The actuator 14 has a generally T-shaped body portion 17 and thus provides a leg 18 which has an opening 19 formed therethrough, and a recessed base 20. The tension member or coil spring 21 of the first switch blade overcentering mechanism is adapted to be freely projected through the opening 19 formed in the leg 18 of the actuator 14 as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The recessed base ice of the leg 18 will partially embrace the tension member or coil spring 22 of the second switch blades overcentering mechanism when the switch is actuated as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Extending out of one end of the housing 10 is a fixed contact bearing terminal 23. Extending outwardly from the opposite end of the housing 10 are extensions 24 and 25 of a pair of combination pivot posts and terminal members 26 and 27.

The overcentering mechanisms for each of the movable switch blades 28 and 29 include the combination pivot posts and terminal members 27 and 2'8, respectively, to which one end of each of the coil springs 21 and 22 is connected. Each of the movable switch blades 28 and 29 have one end pivotally connected to pivot posts 30 and 31 provided by the inner ends of the combination pivot post and terminal members 27 and 28. The opposite ends of the spring 21 and 22 are connected to their respective movable switch blades '28 and 29 as seen in FIG. 3.

The first switch blade 28 as it is held in compression against the pivot post 20 by the spring 21 with the contact carried adjacent the free end thereof in engagement with its first stop member 32 consisting of the inner end of the fixed terminal 23, also supports the actuator 14 by having its coil spring 21 projected through the opening 19 formed in the leg 18 of the actuator so that it will overcenter the first spring 21 initially in a manner hereinafter described.

It should also be noted that the free end of the first switch blade 28 is bent to provide a laterally extending stop finger 33 while the second switch blade 29 has its free end formed to provide a leg 34 which provides an elevated seat 35 for its contact 36.

The second switch blade 29 is held in its preferred angular relation with respect to its pivot post 31 and its coil spring 22 by a stop stud 37 extending laterally from the inner face of the sidewall of the housing section which defines the cavity or compartment 11.

As the actuator 14 is depressed inwardly of the housing 10 it will deform the coil spring 21 of the first switch downwardly, as seen in FIG. 3, until it causes the first switch blade 28 to pivot downwardly with a snap action until its contact 38 engages the contact 36 carried by the second switch blade 29. This operation is clearly shown in FIG. 4 wherein there is an electric circuit now extending through terminal 26, the first switch blade 28, the second switch blade 29, and the second terminal 27.

Upon further movement of the actuator 14 in its downward direction the second coil spring 22 will be deformed out of its longitudinal plane to cause the second switch blade 29 to move downwardly with a snap action until the seat 35 of the blade 29 engages a stop shoulder 39 provided by one wall of the housing which defines the cavity 11. The first switch blade 28 will likewise move downwardly under compression of its spring 21, until its stop finger 33 engages a like stop shoulder 40 formed by the housing 10 as seen in FIG. 5, thus arresting its continuing overtravel while permitting snap-action movement of the second switch blade 29.

Upon opposite reciprocal movement of the actuator 14 the reverse movement of the switch blades is accomplished until each of the switch blades has returned to its original position such as is seen in FIG. 3 Where the blade 28 is in contact with the contact 32 of the terminal 24 and the second blade is in contact with the stop stud 37.

From the foregoing it is apparent that upon actuation of the actuator 14 there is achieved a momentary contact between the switch blades 28 and 29 to create a circuit therethrough.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect,

this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap-action switch, including a housing for a plurality of switch members, providing individual movable switch blades normally having their free ends in spaced apart relation, and individual overcentering mechanisms, including tension members yieldably holding each of the movable switch blades in compression against fixed pivotal members with their free ends in overlaying positions with respect to each other, the improvement comprising,

(a) an actuator means for engaging the tension members of each of the switch members effecting successive overcentering and snap action movement of the free end of one of the switch blades relative to its fixed pivotal member and into contact with another of the switch blades, and movement of said other switch blade out of contact with said one switch blade,

(b) a first stop means in the path of pivotal movement of the free end of one of said switch blades arresting overtraveling thereof after it has initially been moved by its overcentering mechanism into contact with the free end of the other blade, and

(c) a second stop means in the path of pivotal movement of the free end of said other of said switch blade arresting overtraveling thereof after it has been moved by its overcentering mechanism out of contact with the free end of the said one of said switch blades.

2 A snap-action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said first stop member comprises a surface extending transversely to and in the path of movement of the free end of said one of said switch blades, said surface disposed beneath the point of pivotal connection between said one of said switch blades and its fixed pivotal member permitting full overcentering of said one of said switch blades by its overcentering mechanism.

3. A snap-action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said second stop member comprises a surface extending transversely to and in the path of pivotal movement of the free end of said other of said switch blades with said surface extending parallelly and below said first stop member.

4. A snap-action switch as defined by claim 2 wherein said second stop comprises a surface extending parallel to and spaced from and beneath said surface comprising said first stop member, said surface comprising said second stop member lying transversely to and in the path of pivotal movement of the free end of said other of said switch blades after it has been moved by its overcentering mechanism out of contact with the free end of the said one of said switch blades.

5. A snap-action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said actuator provides an elongated leg reciprocally movable through a plane perpendicular to the tension members, said leg having formed therein an opening through which the tension member which holds said one of said switch blades in compression against its fixed pivotal member projects, and a recessed base for partially embracing the tension member of said other of said switch members.

6. A snap-action switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said first stop member comprises a surface extending transversely to and in the path of movement of the free end of said one of said switch blades, said surface disposed beneath the point of pivotal connection between said one of said switch blades and its fixed pivotal member permitting full overcentering of said one of said switch blades by its overcentering mechanism.

7. A snap-action switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said second stop member comprises a surface extending transversely to and in the path of pivotal movement of the free end of said other of said switch blades with said surface extending parallelly and below said first stop member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1930 Persons. 5/1957 Lieberman. 

